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Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited U.S. and coalition troops in Irbil, Iraq, to encourage them and offer insight regarding Kurdish peshmerga fighters and their efforts to thwart Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant insurgents.

In Baghdad as part of a weeklong trip to the Middle East, Defense Secretary Ash Carter praised Iraqi forces for their efforts to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and commended Iraqi officials for working to create the inclusive government required for sustained success against ISIL. Story

Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with President Masoud Barzani of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to the lasting defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the Pentagon press secretary said. Story

Defense Secretary Ash Carter had "exceptionally substantive" meetings with Saudi Arabia's king and defense minister on regional security issues and new challenges, he said in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Story

Defense Secretary Ash Carter reaffirmed the relationship between the United States and Jordan in a meeting with Gen. Mashal al-Zaben, King Abdullah II's advisor for military affairs and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian armed forces, and Lt. Gen. Prince Faisal bin Hussein, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said. Story

Defense Secretary Ash Carter began a weeklong trip to three Middle Eastern nations, with a first stop in Tel Aviv, Israel. Carter received an honor cordon welcome before a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon to discuss security matters including countering Iran's destabilizing activities and preventing terror attacks. Carter later participated in a joint news conference. Story

About the Secretary

Ash Carter is the 25th secretary of defense. He previously served as deputy defense secretary and as undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. Carter has received the Defense Department's Distinguished Service Medal five times and the Defense Intelligence Medal. Biography